Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

Caught a glimpse of Storm practice today and F Sheryl Swoopes was ridding a stationary bike along side C Yolanda Griffith, who was on her own bike. After a few moments, Swoopes got off the bike and then sat atop a makeshift trainer's table adjacent to the practice court, pulling up her pant leg to reveal a heavily wrapped right knee.

I was off yesterday and all accounts of how she suffered the injury and the severity of it during the session are vague, so I still don't have any concrete answers -- just observations. The fact that Swoopes was able to move the knee on a bike has to be a positive sign.

The three-time MVP has only had two surgeries in her illustrious career. She missed the entire 2001 WNBA season due to a torn ACL and lateral meniscus in her left knee. She only played three games in 2007 due to a lower back injury, which needed surgery in October.

UPDATE: Media has been allowed into practice and Swoopes is on the court with assistant coach Shelley Patterson, her son, and athletic trainer Tom Spencer working on sliding and soft drives to the hoop. She's doing some light jogging, too, so the injury isn't as bad as it sounded on Tuesday. Swoopes remains uncertain if she'll start against New York on Thursday, however. She's going through an extensive treatment session and if unable to go, G Tanisha Wright will start in her place.

LOCAL HOOK-UP: Washingtonians Cathrine Kraayeveld and Kristen O'Neill caught up with each other when Kraayeveld's New York team arrived at the Storm's practice facility this afternoon. They, along with Liberty rookie G Leilani Mitchell (Kennewick), are the only locals playing in the WNBA. And for those wondering about O'Neill's jersey number, F Camille Little is keeping No. 20 while O'Neill is going to wear No. 32. Guess the tribute to Kayla Burt will have to be lived through Little instead of O'Neill. (For those that don't know, read all about it here.)